Why Did Brazil’s CADE Exclude Small Business Developers from its Digital Platform Regulation Hearing?
Recently, Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) held a public hearing to discuss digital platform regulation—an issue with enormous implications for the ACT | The App Association community both in and outside of Brazil. The App Association has worked with governments around the world to bring small business innovator viewpoints to the fore on regulation proposals to ensure that the platforms’ key features that have propelled our community’s immense growth and job creation remain intact: cost-effective access to [...]
The EU’s DMA at One Year: Are SMEs Better Off?
One year into the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Union’s ambitious effort to regulate competition in the digital economy, startups are seeing more challenges than benefits. The DMA was introduced with the promise of ‘levelling the playing field’ by reining in more dominant technology companies. In practice, however, it has created new barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), adding compliance burdens, disrupting established distribution models, and creating uncertainty in an already challenging funding environment. [...]
A Scroll Down Memory Lane: February 2025’s Member Mondays
ACT | The App Association’s members are at the forefront of innovation, leveraging technology to create meaningful solutions that drive positive change. Each month, we spotlight these trailblazing small businesses through our Member Monday series. In February, we highlighted members who are shaping the future of tax and digital trade, helping businesses navigate compliance, streamline operations, and drive economic growth. From AI-powered data solutions to supply chain transparency and digital engagement, these innovators are tackling key challenges in the [...]
What’s Next for Digital Trade?
For small firms in the app economy, business has always been global. Software developers, brand strategists, app makers, and other tech-focused small businesses sell products and services all over the world. Due to their inherently global nature, small companies competing in digital markets like ACT | The App Association members need strong protection through digital trade policies. Each year, digitally delivered services account for more than 10 percent of all global trade, amounting to $4.25 trillion annually. Digitally delivered [...]
Always Be Filing: ACT | The App Association Filing Activity February 2025
Throughout the year, our policy team submits filings with government bodies worldwide to advocate for a regulatory environment that inspires and rewards innovation. From issues around regulating artificial intelligence to digital trade, our team is ACTive on a wide range of topics that could have a positive or negative impact on our small business members driving the app economy. Below is a roundup of our filings from around the globe this past month. Title: Feedback of ACT | [...]